Chapter 355: The End of Darkness

A tall, gaunt figure cloaked in tattered black appeared behind Solomon. It was Charon, the ferryman of the Styx from another world—a manifestation of the primordial sludge bubbling at the source of eternal chaos. This being was but a fragment of the infinite will of the iridescent spheres that shimmer at the edge of reality, a shadowy herald of the Keeper of the Gate, whose presence defies time, space, and all mortal comprehension.

When Solomon summoned this being, the icy madness of its essence descended upon him. The world before his eyes vanished, replaced by a monumental stone gate standing in the infinite chaos. A delicate silver veil fluttered over the gate, its corner lifted by an unseen breeze, revealing the horrors beyond—a kaleidoscopic sphere of shifting colors, pulsating, flowing, and fracturing within the abyss. Truths ultimate and terrifying, transcending all imagination and logic, worlds without end, and dimensions beyond reckoning were glimpsed through this ethereal curtain.

Solomon gripped the silver key, etched with curling Arabic vines, tighter than ever.

Not now, he whispered. Great Keeper of the Gate, it is not yet time to cross into the abyss.

Charon raised a skeletal, withered finger, and the massive black entities looming over London extended their tendrils cautiously to meet its touch. In response, the oppressive darkness enveloping the city shrank rapidly. Golden light leaked from the edges as the primordial darkness recoiled and was drawn into Charon's cloak.

Malekith, witnessing this, howled in frustration. The overwhelming, universe-consuming darkness he had sought to unleash now bent obediently to another's will. His commands and pleas fell on deaf ears as the Aether continued its inexorable task of consuming his life and soul to produce even more primordial darkness.

The power of the Infinity Stones might be limitless, but their wielders are not. The insatiable Aether devoured everything it could to fuel itself, while the darkness it birthed was drawn inexorably back to the depths of the ultimate void, its rightful place.

Everyone present felt the icy madness emanating from the ferryman, though only Loki and the onlookers watching through the water-mirror—Queen Frigga and the Ancient One—could sense what truly lay beneath its tattered cloak. There was no form beneath it, only the pure terror of black magic incarnate. Those who understood the workings of the world were most susceptible to its madness, and only the strongest wills could resist its effects.

Thor, lacking such understanding, instinctively knew better than to disturb Solomon.

Raising his hand reflexively, Solomon conjured a silver arrow of burning flame. It was no ordinary spell but a gift from the Keeper of the Gate, who had granted Solomon access to a power beyond the bounds of the Material Plane.

The arrow pierced the veil of the Aether with ease, striking Malekith. As the silver flames consumed his body, they tore what little remained of his soul from the Aether. The primordial darkness and Malekith's soul were the price of Solomon's bargain—a deal struck with the Keeper of the Gate. Generous to a fault, the Keeper even bestowed upon Solomon a few other "gifts." Yet the sorcerer paid a steep price in return: on the back of his hand, beneath his gauntlet, appeared the unmistakable mark of Yog-Sothoth.

It was both a blessing and a curse.

Much like the stigma of the Saint's Mark, Solomon now bore a constant reminder of his humanity—something he would have to fight to retain. The mark tethered him to his memories, anchoring him to his experiences in this world, a lifeline to keep him from being lost in the vast, boundless multiverse.

At that moment, the Saint's Mark seemed to stabilize Solomon's presence in the Material Plane, its tenfold power affirming his existence.

"You knew about this!" Queen Frigga pointed accusingly at the water-mirror. "You let your disciple contact those beings? Don't try to fool me—I'm the strongest sorceress in Asgard! This isn't the work of the Vishanti or the Octessence Alliance; it's far more dangerous. I've read about those eldritch entities—this is connected to one of them, isn't it?"

"I trust my disciple as I trust myself," the Ancient One replied calmly. "This extra-dimensional being came to Solomon during a time-travel incident, and they struck a bargain. In truth, the entity had been waiting for him; the incident was merely a coincidence. Because this being exists in all timelines simultaneously, their encounter was inevitable. Whatever the case, Solomon remains loyal to humanity. He will honor the pact between Kamar-Taj and Asgard, continuing to protect the Material Plane."

"Solomon won't succeed you as Sorcerer Supreme?"

"No," the Ancient One said with conviction. "He belongs to me—to humanity—not to the Vishanti."

Malekith's screams echoed through the water-mirror as a pitch-black orb, holding his soul, floated into Charon's bony hand. The darkness receded, and Solomon's vision cleared. As golden light pierced the clouds above, the terrifying shadow behind him vanished. All that remained were the soldiers, the wreckage, and the faintly pulsing Aether, drifting in the air like embers.

"What was that?" Thor asked, his voice trembling slightly. "Was that your magic?"

"More or less," Solomon said, his deep, shadowed gaze softening. He rolled down his gauntlet, glancing at the sigil of Yog-Sothoth before tucking the silver key back into his armor. It was too dangerous to be left in sight; even glimpsing it could unleash catastrophic knowledge.

"You should summon the warriors of Asgard now," Solomon continued, straightening his posture. "Take some time to rest, then have Heimdall bring you back to Asgard. Cleanup crews will arrive soon—we'd just be in their way."

"Hey, Coulson," Solomon said after borrowing Darcy's phone and dialing. "Do you have any food on that plane?"

"Of course. By the way, can you tell me what just happened down there?"

"Sure…" Solomon paused, then chuckled dryly. "Actually, no, my friend. As much as I enjoy Fury's little games of ignorance, I'm not about to let you die again because of a magical mishap."

[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! Only $5 per novel or $15 for all!!] [www.p@treon.com/Mutter]

[+50 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]

[+5 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]